COVID-19: 4 new cases for Peterborough area, vaccinations for age 70+ start next week

Peterborough Public Health wrapped up the week with another four new cases of COVID-19 and another dozen presumed variant of concern (VoC) cases on Friday.

In its daily COVID tracker update at 4:15 p.m., the health unit reports active cases are now at 54, down from 60 on Thursday. There are also a dozen more presumed variant of concern cases, which are now at 179.

The first confirmed variant of concern was reported on Feb. 23. A presumed variant is defined as having tested positive for a mutation, but it requires further genomic sequencing to determine its specific strain, the health unit notes. Testing at the Public Health Ontario labs generally takes seven to 14 days. Once a strain is identified, it is then placed on the tracker’s “confirmed” case list.

Of the 842 cases, 778 are now declared resolved (10 more since Thursday) — approximately 92 per cent.

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The health unit plans to start to open appointments for residents born in 1951 (age 70) or earlier starting next mid-week, once more of the area’s older residents have been immunized.

“Call volumes have been strong since the province announced last Friday that adults 75+ were eligible for vaccinations,” stated Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, medical officer of health. “It has been a fine balance to ensure we open up just enough appointments to match our current vaccine supply. We are still finding a high demand for appointments and have experienced delays in the booking system due to issues outside of our control.

“As of this morning (Friday), we are back online and on the phone with more vaccination appointments available and we want to provide a few more days of access for people born in or before 1946 before opening up bookings to the next age group.”

To book a vaccine — residents ages 80 and up — use the province’s online system or call 249-494-5631 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Clinics are being held at the Evinrude Centre in Peterborough and at the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre in Norwood.

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